Student Excellence Program
Introduced in 2020, the Student Excellence Program program delivers a range of student-centred challenge and enrichment opportunities and workforce capability initiatives so that all government schools can provide an environment that engages, challenges and extends high-ability learners.
The Student Excellence Program includes the following elements:
- Victorian High-Ability Program, an online 10-week extension program in English and Mathematics for students in Years 5 to 8 provided through Virtual School Victoria
- Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series, providing enrichment opportunities across the curriculum to engage, challenge and extend high-ability students from Foundation to Year 12, offered by expert education and not-for-profit organisations, universities, teacher associations, science and mathematics specialist centres and tech schools
- additional funding to schools through the Student Resource Package to support programs for high-ability students
- appointment of high-ability practice leaders in every government school to lead the school’s work to support high-ability students
- High-ability to support schools and teachers to implement a whole school approach to supporting high-ability students.
Victorian High-Ability Program
The Victorian High-Ability Program (VHAP) is an online 10-week extension program in English and Mathematics for students in Years 5 to 8.
VHAP offers 4 courses – Primary English, Primary Mathematics, Secondary English and Secondary Mathematics. Students are eligible to participate in each course once.
VHAP is delivered by Virtual School (VSV) during school hours, with the students being under the direct supervision of their home school. Students participate in one 60-minute virtual session per week over 10 weeks.
After completing the virtual program, students participate in a face-to-face masterclass with other high-ability students from schools in their local area. Masterclasses consolidate the new knowledge and relationships built through the virtual program. Schools collaborate to deliver masterclasses with teacher professional learning available to support this.
There are no fees for participation in the virtual classes, however schools may request parents to pay and arrange for transport to masterclasses as per the department’s Parent Payments policy.
Staff with designated access can view the current subject coursework on the VSV portal (staff login required).
Student selection for VHAP
The department identifies students for participation in VHAP based on a combination of NAPLAN data and teacher judgement data. Priority is given to students who are high-ability and experience socio-economic disadvantage, identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or those who reside in a regional/rural area.
Schools can also nominate high-ability students to participate in VHAP. Detailed guidance is available in the VSV portal under Nomination .
Student selection lists are uploaded to the VSV portal each term and schools are informed via email of their availability to review. Schools review the list for student suitability to participate in the program and assess their capacity to support student participation for that term.
Schools are required to seek parent/carer consent for each student’s participation. Consent is required on the VSV portal to secure the student’s place in the program. The portal contains guidance for HAPLs on how to undertake this.
Students can be withdrawn or deferred from their participation and remain eligible for future selection. Schools must advise of any changes to student participation and enrolment in VHAP in writing tostudent.excellence@education.vic.gov.au
Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series
The Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series (VCES) provides enrichment opportunities across the curriculum to engage, challenge and extend high-ability students from Foundation to Year 12, delivered by expert education and not-for-profit organisations, universities, teacher associations, tech schools, and science and mathematics specialist centres and tech schools.
The series includes both face-to-face and virtual incursions and excursions, such as workshops, tutorials, conferences, lectures and competitions. Activities are held in metropolitan Melbourne and regional areas, and delivered during school hours, after school, on weekends and during school holidays.
All VCES activities are:
- free for participating students
- a minimum of 90 minutes duration
- conducted in groups
- across one or more learning areas of the Victorian curriculum
- delivered under robust quality guidelines set out by the department.
The schedule of activities and events is updated regularly, and can be viewed at VCES Arc .
For activities delivered during school hours, schools nominate and register students to take part in activities and coordinate the required parental consent. Schools nominate students based on their assessment of their abilities and interests.
For activities delivered out of school hours, schools or parents can nominate students to participate in activities. Parents/carers register their children for participation and liaise directly with the activity provider to organise attendance and provide consent.
Schools must consider appropriate supervision and travel arrangements for students participating in VCES activities, which will vary according to the scheduling, type, and location of activities, as well as the student’s age. While there are no fees for participation, schools can request that parents/carers provide or pay for transportation as per the department’s Parent Payments policy.
Students who participate in activities within the VCES can also participate in the VHAP.
Student Excellence Program funding allocations to schools
Schools receive a Student Excellence Program (SEP) funding allocation through the Student Resource Package (SRP) to support them in coordinating student engagement in enrichment and extension opportunities, building a whole-school approach to high-ability, and appointing a high-ability practice leader.
Further information is available at Student Resource Package – Targeted Initiatives.
High-ability practice leaders
As part of the Student Excellence Program, every funded primary and secondary school must nominate a high-ability practice leader(s) (HAPL).
HAPLs:
- work with the school leadership team to build a whole school approach to supporting high-ability students
- support their colleagues to implement approaches and strategies to support high-ability students in their
- coordinate participation of students in the VHAP and VCES
- supervise students participating in the VHAP or VCES, or arrange alternative supervision
- collaborate with other local schools to arrange masterclasses for students who participate in VHAP
- communicate and liaise with the school community regarding the supports for high-ability students at the school.
Larger schools may choose to appoint more than one HAPL. Small schools may wish to partner with other schools to identify a teacher who will work as a HAPL across schools, and pool resources to support their high-ability students.
It is the responsibility of the principal to appoint a HAPL. Principals will receive communications in the absence of an appointed HAPL.
The principal has responsibility for determining the duties of an employee in accordance with the consultation provision of the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022 and the time release (if any) and special payment (if any) applicable for each organisational duty. Further information on the management of teacher work, including the allocation of organisational duties can be found at: Work Requirements – Teachers: Overview. Further information about special payments can be found at: Special Payments: Overview.
It is expected that nominated HAPLs assume the role for at least 12 months. If there is a change to the nominated high-ability practice leader, the principal must advise the Student Excellence Unit by emailing student.excellence@education.vic.gov.au
HAPLs are supported through regular webinars and other professional learning opportunities, with these opportunities being communicated through the regular HAPL email newsletter.
Schools can use their Student Excellence Program funding allocation to support engagement of HAPLs in professional learning.
Reviewed 19 February 2025